Newbeerguy
Well-Known Member
I think I just ran into my fist major snag....I'll take it from the top:
About 2 weeks ago I bottled my AHS Sam Adam's Clone. While I was racking to the bottling bucket I noticed a strong smell of vinegar/spicy/fruity. Thats the best way I can describe it. I thought it may be because I dryhopped for 3 weeks.
Today I was racking my AHS American Bock from my fermenting bucket (same bucket I used for the Sam Adam's Clone) to the secondary. I opened the lid of the bucket and wow really smelled funny. Distinct cidery/vinegar/fruity smell. It was very strong. I took a pic of it, to me it doesn't look like anything was a wrong.
I checked the S.G. and it was 1.014. O.G. was 1.061. So it was spot on there. Also I fermented both of these at 51 degrees (temp controlled). I tasted the hydrometer sample and it wasn't good....It tasted almost carbonated. Actually when I poured the sample in the test tube bubbles were rising and a head was forming. But back to the taste. To me it tasted acidic. Like there was a carbonic bite to it. I could definatly taste vinegar. Kinda fruity but not like hops fruity. I never tasted anything like it before.
Well curiosity got the best of me and I opened one of the Sam Adam's clones. It too had the same distinct smell and taste the bock did, although not as strong.
Does this sound like an infection? Ehh this is frustrating...I went ahead and mixed 1 cup bleach to 5 gallons of water and put it in the fermenting bucket. I also put all my hoses, cups, measuring spoons, funnels, bacically all my plastic brewing equipment in there just in case there maybe something living in it.
What throws me off is I made A PTE clone and I opened a bottle of that too fearing the worst, but much to my liking it was fine (flat, but good). I didn't ferment that in the bucket, I used a carboy for that one, but shared all the other tools for racking, bottling, ect.
My sanitation regiment I feel is great. I always use fresh Star San and never leave equiment dirty. Cleaning on the other hand maybe where I am falling behind. I use a "dobie" with hot water to clean everything out. Maybe I am scratching the bucket? Or not getting everything? I make sure it is clean to the eye then Star San it. Ususally I leave about a gallon of the Star San in the bucket till I use it again.
Sorry such a long read, but I really would like to nip this in the butt so I don't waste anymore beer.
Any suggestions?
About 2 weeks ago I bottled my AHS Sam Adam's Clone. While I was racking to the bottling bucket I noticed a strong smell of vinegar/spicy/fruity. Thats the best way I can describe it. I thought it may be because I dryhopped for 3 weeks.
Today I was racking my AHS American Bock from my fermenting bucket (same bucket I used for the Sam Adam's Clone) to the secondary. I opened the lid of the bucket and wow really smelled funny. Distinct cidery/vinegar/fruity smell. It was very strong. I took a pic of it, to me it doesn't look like anything was a wrong.
I checked the S.G. and it was 1.014. O.G. was 1.061. So it was spot on there. Also I fermented both of these at 51 degrees (temp controlled). I tasted the hydrometer sample and it wasn't good....It tasted almost carbonated. Actually when I poured the sample in the test tube bubbles were rising and a head was forming. But back to the taste. To me it tasted acidic. Like there was a carbonic bite to it. I could definatly taste vinegar. Kinda fruity but not like hops fruity. I never tasted anything like it before.
Well curiosity got the best of me and I opened one of the Sam Adam's clones. It too had the same distinct smell and taste the bock did, although not as strong.
Does this sound like an infection? Ehh this is frustrating...I went ahead and mixed 1 cup bleach to 5 gallons of water and put it in the fermenting bucket. I also put all my hoses, cups, measuring spoons, funnels, bacically all my plastic brewing equipment in there just in case there maybe something living in it.
What throws me off is I made A PTE clone and I opened a bottle of that too fearing the worst, but much to my liking it was fine (flat, but good). I didn't ferment that in the bucket, I used a carboy for that one, but shared all the other tools for racking, bottling, ect.
My sanitation regiment I feel is great. I always use fresh Star San and never leave equiment dirty. Cleaning on the other hand maybe where I am falling behind. I use a "dobie" with hot water to clean everything out. Maybe I am scratching the bucket? Or not getting everything? I make sure it is clean to the eye then Star San it. Ususally I leave about a gallon of the Star San in the bucket till I use it again.
Sorry such a long read, but I really would like to nip this in the butt so I don't waste anymore beer.
Any suggestions?